The Bowling Green State University mens basketball team went to double overtime Saturday evening against Central Michigan, the program’s first double overtime game since 2016-17, and lost 77-76.
After trailing at halftime, the Falcons, which led late at the end of regulation and in both overtimes, forced overtime with a 62-62 tie. Each team tallied six in the first overtime, sending it to a second.
“Obviously a disappointing performance tonight,” said BGSU coach Todd Simon. “We hung in there, gave ourselves a chance to win despite not playing very well.
“We weren’t making shots, we’re making shots around the rim. Luckily, we took care of the ball which gave us an opportunity.
“Just, all-around, an unacceptable effort defensively, particularly on the perimeter, and we can’t guard like that and dig ourselves holes. Offensively the shot-making disappeared and that puts a lot of pressure on you.”
Marcus Hill led the Falcons with 22 points, his seventh-straight 20-point game, while flirting with a triple-double. Hill added seven rebounds and a career-high seven assists, the most assists by a Falcon this season. Rashaun Agee reached 20 points as well, finishing with 20 points and 14 rebounds for his 10th double-double of the season.
Central Michigan made the first basket before a cutting Jason Spurgin got a feed from Rashaun Agee for a 2-2 score.
CMU pushed their score to 6-2 before a DaJion Humphrey three. Central added four to their tally before a Marcus Hill triple cut it down to 10-8 at the media timeout.
A Hill layup out of the timeout tied the game at 10-10, but the two teams traded points to a 12-12 tie as well. CMU answered with a 7-2 stretch to move ahead 19-14 at the under-12 media timeout.
Trey Thomas continued the three-point barrage for the Falcons with a corner three to bring the score to 21-17.
Thomas added a pair at the line before an Agee layup, interrupted by a CMU three, to make the score 26-21 at the under-8 media break.
The Chippewas added a basket, but layups from Hill and Agee chipped away at the score, bringing it down to 28-25.
Each team added a layup with CMU also making a free throw for a 31-27 score at the final media timeout of the first half.
Two makes for Central pushed their advantage to 35-27 before two Sam Towns free throws and a Da’Shawn Phillip three brought the halftime score to 35-31.
CMU made the first points of the second half, but a 6-0 Bowling Green run pushed the score to favor the Falcons 38-37. Hill started the run with a layup followed by two Agee free throws. Strong defense then forced a turnover with Phillip ending the fast break with a dunk, forcing a Central Michigan timeout.
The teams traded layups up to the media timeout with CMU leading 41-40.
Jason Spurgin connected on a three, but a 7-0 Central Michigan run pushed the Chippewas to a 48-43 advantage. Agee hit two free throws to end the run with a 48-45 score at the under-12 media timeout.
The Agee free throws sparked an 8-0 BGSU run. Agee found Spurgin for three followed by three more Agee free throws for a 51-48 lead.
CMU swung the score back to them at 52-51 before Agee brought back a massive slam dunk to bring the Stroh Center crowd to life and give the Falcons a 53-52 lead.
With momentum on their side, the Orange and Brown moved out to a 57-55 advantage at the under-8 media break.
Thomas hit a big three for the Falcons to extend their lead to 62-57, forcing a Central Michigan timeout to force the under-4 media timeout.
A 5-0 run for Central Michigan tied the score at 62-62 with Bowling Green taking a timeout. The score remained through the end of regulation to send the game to overtime.
To start overtime, Phillip forced a CMU turnover that turned into a BGSU fast break. On the offensive end, Hill found a running Agee for the slam to push BGSU in front 64-62.
Hill added a free throw for the Falcons before an acrobatic layup to make the score 67-62.
On the defensive end, Agee had an emphatic block that sent a CMU layup attempt into the visiting bench to keep the score at 67-62.
Central Michigan worked to tie the game at 68-68, sending it to a second overtime.
Agee got a layup to fall to start the second overtime, but a 3-0 run for CMU pushed them in front 73-70.
Hill got a layup that was matched by CMU. Hill snagged an offensive rebound and put it back for a layup and a 75-74 score.
Hill converted two two free throws to swing the score to the Falcons 76-75. A layup for CMU made it a 77-76 Chippewas lead and the final.
As a team, the Falcons had just three turnovers, the fewest turnovers in a game for Bowling Green this season.
Marcus Hill tallied a team-high 22 points for the Falcons, giving him his seventh consecutive 20-point game. In 22 games, Hill has reached double-digit points 20 times, 20+ 13 times and 30+ twice.
Hill added seven assists, not only a career-high for him but the most assists by a Falcon in a game this season. He completed his stat line with seven rebounds as well.
Rashaun Agee recorded his 10th double-double of the season, all coming in the last 14 games. Agee finished with 20 points and a team-high 14 rebounds, his third 20-point game of the season.
Agee matched his career-high for free throw attempts with 12, making eight. He also matched his season-high for blocks with two and set a new career-high for minutes played with 39.
With Hill and Agee both reaching 20 points, the Falcons have had multiple 20-point scorers in a game five times this season.
The Falcons will remain at home for their next contest, hosting Buffalo on Tuesday (Feb. 6). The game is set for a 7 p.m. start and will be Star Wars Night and Faculty/Staff Night at the Stroh Center.
